Presser mechanisms for sewing machines



Dec. 8, 1959 A. J. MATuzAs PREssER uEcHANxsMs FOR SEWING MACHINES 2Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug; l, 1956 INVENToR. Amhony J. Mauzas TORNF YDec. 8, 1959 A. J. MATUZAS PRESSER MECHANIsMs FOR SEWING MACHINES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 vQvfb v 2 Filed Aug. l. 1956 INVEN TOR. Anhony J. MauzasFig.

W/ TNESS United States Patent O PRESSER MECHANISMS FOR SEWING MACHINESAnthony J. Matuzas, Union, NJ., assigner to The Singer ManufacturingCompany, Elizabeth, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Application August1, `1956, Serial No. 601,546

9 Claims. (Cl. 112-236) i This application is a continuation in part ofapplication Serial No. 541,943, filed October 21, 1955, which has beenabandoned in favor of the present application.

The present invention relates to presser mechanisms for sewing machinesand more particularly to a so-called quick-adjustment device for sewingmachine presser mechanisms, i.e., a device by means of which thecompression of the spring that biases the presser bar toward theworksupporting surface may be conveniently released to permit work suchas darning that does not require a feeding of the work and thereforedoes not require a strong presser action, and may be convenientlyrestored for normal sewing 'or set at a number of intermediate positionsof adjustment as required for sewing different materials.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide aquick-adjustment device for a sewing machine presser mechanism that hasa simplified actuation thus being convenient and easy to operate.Further objects of thevpresent invention are to provide a presserquick-adjustment device that is inexpensive, can be readily assembledand disassembled for initial assembly or repair or replacement of parts,is durable and dependable in operation, can be used on existingmachines, and is neat and attractive.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from anunderstanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices,combinations: and arrangements of parts as` illustrated in the presentlypreferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter Set forth insuch detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understandthe function, operation, constructionand advantages of it when read inconjunction with the; accompanying drawings in which:

. ,'Fig. l is a fragmentary head and elevational view with a portion insection of a sewing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on ,the line 2-2of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an exploded p'erspective view of the quickrelease device perse.

Figs. 4, 5 and l6 are fragmentary detail sectional views illustratingvarious positions in the actuation of the device.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification ofthe invention.

Fig. 8 is a detail section view taken substantially on the line 8-8 ofFig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail section view similar to Fig. 8 but illustrating theparts in a different position of adjustment.

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective View of the parts per se of themodied quick-adjustment device as illustrated in Fig. 7.

.With reference to the drawings, the present invention uisillustrated asembodied in a sewing machine having a .frame including a head 1 and bed2 having a throat plate 3.1 The presser mechanism, which is designed tohold the -Work .downagainst the throat plate'3 and feed-dogs 4 of ficethe feeding mechanism, comprises a short hollow presser- -bar 5 mountedfor longitudinal sliding movement in a bushing 6 in the head 1, andcarrying a presser foot 7 at its lower end. The presser bar 5 has anaxial bore 8 extending longitudinally from the upper end and in which isdisposed a coiled compression spring 9 that bears at its lower endagainst the bottom of the bore 8. At its upper end, the spring 9 abutsagainst a compression rod 10, the lower end of which telescopes into thebore 8. Extending longitudinally into the upper end of the connectingrod 10 is a small axial guide bore 11 that receives a pin 12 whichconsists of the reduced diameter lower end of a rod 13. The rod 13 ismounted for axial sliding movement in the bore 14 of an externallythreaded bushing 15 screwed into the head 1.

There is provided a releasable latch means between the rod 13 and thebushing 15 for holding the rod 13 down against the action of the spring9 and thus for holding the spring 9 in compression, the latch meansbeing designed to permit free sliding movement of the rod 13 downwardlyrelatively to the bushing 15 or in the direction to increase the actionof the spring 9 and for releasably latching the rod 13 against movementin the opposite direction. Toward this end, the upper end of the bushing15 is provided with internal threads which cooperate with externalthreads upon the upper end of a sleeve 16 disposed in the bore 14 tosecure the sleeve 16 in the bore 14. The sleeve 16 is provided with ascrew driver slot 17 to facilitate tightening. The lower end of thesleeve 16 is formed of spring or tool steel and is longitudinallyslotted inwardly from its lower end to form spring lingers 18 which ineffect constitute a plurality of leaf springs arranged longitudinally ofthe rod 13. The lower or free ends 19 of the leaf springs or springfingers 18 are turned inwardly toward the axis of the sleeve to engagethe periphery of the rod `13. The rod 13 has a reduced-diameter portion20 near its lower end to fonm a stop-shoulder 21 and has a secondreduced portion 22 spaced from the reduced portion 20 to define acam-collar 23 between the two reduced portions. The lower face of thecam-collar Z3l is inclined with respect to the axis of the rod 13 to`define a cam surface 24 while the upper face of the cam-collar isnormal to the rod to define a stop surface 25. Slidably mounted on thereduced portion 22 is a collar 26 that it somewhat less in length thanthe length of the reduced portion 22 so that it is free to slide to alimited extent between the stop 25 and a stop shoulder 27 at the upperend of the reduced portion 22.

The upper end of the rod 13 is expanded by means of a thumb screw 2S tofacilitate manual depression of the rod 13 against the action of thespring 9.

As a manufacturing expedient, the rod 13 may be made in two partsseparated along the line 29, Fig. 2, and pressfitted together after thecollar 26 has been placed on the reduced portion 22, and the pin 12maybe press-fitted into a bore in the end of the lower part of the rod13, as indicated at 30, rather than being integral. -In addition, thesleeve 16 may be made in two parts comprising the upper threaded partand a cylinder including the spring fingers 18, the parts being brazedtogether.

To assemble the parts, the sleeve 16 is screwed into the bore of thebushing 15 and the rod 13 is pushed through the sleeve from the upperend so that `the free ends 19 of the spring fingers 18 will be deflectedover the lower end of the rod 13 onto the reduced portion 20. Theassembly is then inserted into the machine by screwing the bushing 1Sinto the head 1. It will, ofcourse, be obvious that this device can beused in existing machines by designing the bushing 15 to be substitutedfor the usual presser bar spring abutment bushing of the machine. i

In operation, the normal operative position of the parts is illustratedin Fig. 2. In this position, 4the ends 19 of the spring fingers18^engage the stop 25 on the rod 13 to hold therod against the action ofthe spring 9v and'thus hold the lspring 9 in Compression. Thecompression of the spring 9 can be 'adjusted' byscrewing down or backing'off the bushing 15 in the lhead 1. To release the compression of thespring 9, `the rod 13 is pusheddown into the position illustrated inFig. 4 in which 'position the collarV 26 is moved into engagement withthe stop 27 andthe ends 19 of the spring lingers 18 are deflectedV ontothe collar 26. When the rod 13 is released, the spring 9 urges, it up,with the ends -19 of the spring lingers 18 resiliently gripping theVperiphery of the collar Y26 so that as therod 13l moves upunder theaction of the spring 9, the collar 26 will be held stationaryY and therod 13 moves relative thereto until the collar is engaged by the stop25Yas illustrated in FigQS. As the `rod 13 continues to move up, thecollar 26 is carried with it and the ends 19 of the spring fingers 18slideiolf the collar. Since the Y-diameter of the collar 26 is madeequal to or larger than the diameter of the stop 25, the ends 19 of thespring fingers 18 will, in effect, be lifted over the stop 25 and slideoff the collar 26 onto the cam face 24 and onto the reduced portion 20,`and finally into contact with the' stop 21 as illustrated in Fig. 6.When engaged against the stop 21, the ends 19 of the spring fingers 18hold the rod 13 against further sliding movement to prevent any furtherexpansion of the spring 9. The stop 21 is positioned so that there willbe only a light compression of the spring 9, or in otherwords, thecompression of the spring 9 is relaxed so that there is only alightpressure urging the presser foot 7 againstthe 'throat plate 3. Torestore the normal sewing condition, the rod. 13 is depressed tocompress the spring 9, the spring lingers 18 being ydellected over thecam-collar 23 by the cam face 24 to engage the stop 25, the collar 26being freely slidable away from the stop 25.

In Figs. 7-10 there is illustrated a modification of the invention whichincludes a plurality of intermediate positions of adjustment. In thisconstruction, there is provided a rod 31 which is comparable to the rod13 of the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs.

1 6. The rod 31 is mounted yfor axial sliding movement in the bore 32 ofan externally threaded bushing 33 screwed rinto the head 1. The upperend of the bushing 33 is provided with internal threads which cooperatewith external threads upon the upper end of a tubular spring or springsleeve 34 disposedin the bore 32 `to secure the sleeve 34 i-n the bore32'. The sleeve 34 is the same as the sleeve 16 and includes the springlingers 35 which are comparable to the spring lingers 18.

Intermediate its ends the rod 31 is grooved to provide a plurality ofcollars 36 spaced axially along the rod, each of said collars 36 havinga lower edge that is inclined relative to the axis of the rod, thusdening a cam surface 37 that is adapted to deflect the ends of thespring fingers 35 as the rod 31 is lowered relative tothe spring fingersso that the fingers 35 will ride freely thereover, and a llat upper facethat is'normal to the axis of the rod 31, thus'defining a stop shoulder38 against which the lower edges of the ngers 35 will engage to preventupward movement of the rod relative to the fingers 35. To release thespring fingers 35 from operative relation with respect to the stopshoulders 38, there is provided a releasing sleeve 39 surrounding therod 31 internally of the spring sleeve 34 and slidable axially relativeto .the rod 31 and spring sleeve 34. A coil spring `40 seated in anaxial bore 41 in the top of the spring sleeve 34' bear-s againsttheunderside of a head 42 on'Y the releasing sleeve 39 to bias thesleeve 39 upwardly to a normal position as illustrated in. Fig. 8 inwhich the lower end thereof is out of engagement with the spring fingers35 and the spring fingers 35 are in operative engagement mally heldagainst rising under the action of the presser bar spring 9 and holdsthe spring 9 under a predetermined compression. When the releasingsleeve 39 is forced downwardly, as by manual pressure on the head 42,the ends of the spring nger will be cammed outwardly out of operativerelation with the stop shoulders 38, as illustrated in Fig. 9. The rod31 is thus free to rise under the action of the presser bar spring 9 andit will spring up to a predetermined stop position Vthat has been set inaccordance with the minimum desi-red pressure and thereby reduce thecompression ofthe presser bar spring 9. As illustrated in Fig. 9, thisstop position is determined by a collar 43 held on the rod 29 by a snapring 44, which collar 43. abuts against the bottom of the bushing 33.The snap ring 44 is seated in one of a plurality of circumferentialgrooves 45 in the periphery of the rod 31. The selection of the groove45 as well -as the adjustment of the bushing 33 will effect anadjustment of the minimum presser bar spring pressure obtainable.

After the releasing sleeve 39 has been depressed and the rod 31 hassprung up to the position illustrated in Fig. 9, the rod 31 may then bemanually forced downwardly to place the presser bar spring 9 underincreasing pressure during which time the ends of the spring fingers 35,by virtue of the cam surfaces 37, will ride freely over the collars 36.The rod 31 is provided with a head 46 which facilitates `forcing itldownwardly as well as pre.- vents the releasing sleeve 39 from comingolf the rod. When the desired compression is obtained, if desired, whichmay be shown by suitable indicia (not shown),

' the rod 31 is released and the ends of the spring ngers 35 will engagewith the adjacent stop shoulder 38 and `will hold the rod 31 in theadjusted position. Y

Numerous other modifications of the structure herein disclosed willsuggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to beunderstood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodimentof my v mounted in said frame for longitudinal sliding movement, aspring for biasing said presser bar longitudinally, an

adjustable abutment for said'spring comprising an eX- ternally threadedbushingscrewed into said frame and having a bore, and operativeconnections between said bushing and said spring including aquick-adjustment device comprising a rod mounted for axial slidingmovement in the bore of said bushing and operativelyV connected to saidspring for holding said spring under compression and to increase thecompression of said spring upon axial movement of said rod in onedirection and to reduce the compression of said spring upon axialmovement of said rod in the other direction, and means for operativelyconnecting said rod to said bushing for permitting free Aslidingmovement of said rod relative to said bushing in the direction toincrease the action of said spring and for latching said rod againstmovement in the opposite direction after said rod has been moved beyonda predetermined point and Vfor releasing said rod for free slidingmovement in the direction to reduce the action of said spring uponcontinued movement of said rod beyond said predetermined point;

2. In a sewing machine having a frame, a presser bar mounted in saidframe for longitudinal sliding movement, a spring for biasing saidpresser bar longitudinally, all adjustable abutment for said springcomprising an externally threaded bushing screwed into said frame andhaving a bore, and. operative connections between Said oneofthe stp`shoulders. 38. kThe rodv 3=1 is nor- 75 bushing Vandsaid springincluding La quick-adjustment de`- vice comprising a rod mounted foraxial sliding movement in the bore of said bushing and operativelyconnected to said spring for holding said spring under compression andto increase the compression of said spring upon axial movement of saidrod in one direction and to reduce the compression of said spring uponaxial movement of said rod in the other direction, and means includingan actuating spring for operatively connecting said rod to said bushingfor free sliding movement of said rod relative to said bushing in thedirection to increase thel action of said spring and for releasablylatching said rod in a predetermined position against sliding movementin the opposite direction and for releasing said rod for free slidingymovement in the direction to reduce the action of said spring upon axialmovement of said rod beyond said predetermined position.

3. A quick-adjustment device for the presser mechanism of a sewingmachine comprising a bushing adapted to be secured in the head of asewing machine and having a bore, a sleeve secured in the bore of saidbushing and having spring fingers disposed longitudinally of said bore,the free ends of said spring fingers being resiliently biased inwardlytoward the axis of said sleeve, a rod mounted in said sleeve for axialsliding movement, a stop on said rod, said stop being formed to slidefreely past said spring fingers as said rod is moved in one directionand to engage against said stop as said rod is moved in the otherdirection, a collar mounted for sliding movement on said rod anddisposed to slide into engagement with said stop, and means for limitingthe sliding movement of said collar away from said stop to a position inwhich the adjacent end of said collar is spaced from said stop, saidcollar having a cross section substantially equal to the cross sectionof said stop whereby said spring fingers can slide freely from saidcollar onto and over said stop when said collar is in engagement withsaid stop.

4. In a sewing machine having a frame, a presser bar mounted in saidframe for longitudinal sliding movement, a spring for biasing saidpresser bar longitudinally, an adjustable abutment for said springcomprising an externally threaded bushing screwed into said frame foraxial adjustment and having a bore, and operative connections betweensaid bushing and said spring including a quick-adjustment devicecomprising a rod mounted for axial sliding movement in the bore of saidbushing and operatively connected to said spring for holding said springunder compression, and releasable latch means operatively connectingsaid rod to said bushing comprising va spring finger carried by saidbushing and arranged longitudinally of said rod with the end thereofbiased into engagement with the peripheral surface of said rod, a stopshoulder on said rod, said stop shoulder being adapted to slide freelypast the end of said spring finger when said rod is moved in thedirection to increase the compression of said spring and to latchagainst the end of said spring finger as it is moved past the same whensaid rod is moved in the opposite direction, and means for moving theend of said spring finger out of operative relation with said stopshoulder to permit free sliding movement of said rod in said oppositedirection.

5. A quick-adjustment device for a sewing machine comprising anexternally threaded bushing adapted to be screwed into the head of asewing machine and having an axial bore therethrough, a rod mounted foraxial sliding movement in the bore of said bushing and adapted to beconnected to the presser bar spring of the machine to hold the sameunder compression, and releasable latch means operatively connectingsaid rod to said bushing comprising a spring sleeve carried by saidbushing withing the bore thereof and surrounding said rod, said springsleeve being slotted longitudinally to define a plurality of springfingers arranged longitudinally of said rod with the ends thereof biasedinto engagement with the peripheral surface of said rod, a stop shoulderon said rod, said stop shoulder being adapted to slide freely past theends as it is moved past the same when said rod is moved inv theopposite direction, and means for moving the ends of said spring fingersout of operative relation with said stop shoulder to permit free slidingmovement of said rod in said opposite direction.

6. A quick-adjustment device for a sewing machine comprising anexternally threaded bushing adapted to be screwed into the head of asewing machine and having an axial bore therethrough, a rod mounted foraxial sliding movement in the bore of said bushing and adapted to beconnected to the presser bar spring of the machine to hold the sameunder compression, and releasable latch means operatively connectingsaid rod to-said bushing comprising a spring sleeve carried by saidbushing within the bore thereof and surrounding said rod, said springsleeve being slotted longitudinally to define a plurality of springfingers arranged longitudinally of said rod with the ends thereof biasedinto engagement with the peripheral surface of said rod, a stop shoulderon said rod, said stop shoulder being adapted to slide freely past theends of said spring fingers when said rod is moved in the direction toincrease the compression of the presser bar spring and to latch againstthe ends of said spring fingers as it is moved past the same when saidrod is moved in the opposite direction, and a releasing sleevesurrounding said rod and arranged internally of said spring sleeve, saidreleasing sleeve being slidable longitudinally of said rod to cam saidspring fingers out of operative relation with said stop shoulder topermit free sliding movement of said rod in said opposite direction.

7. A quick-adjustment device for a sewing machine comprising anexternally threaded bushing adapted to be screwed into the head of asewing machine and having an axial bore therethrough, a rod mounted foraxial sliding movement in the bore of said bushing and adapted to beconnected to the presser bar spring of the machine to hold the sameunder compression, and releasable latch v means operatively connectingsaid rod to said bushing comprising a spring sleeve carried by saidbushing within the bore thereof and surrounding said rod, said springsleeve being slotted longitudinally to define a plurality of springfingers arranged longitudinally of ysaid rod with the ends thereofbiased into engagement with the peripheral surface of said rod, aplurality of stop shoulders spaced axially on said rod, said stopshoulders being adapted to slide freely past the ends of said springfingers when said rod is moved in the direction to increase thecompression of the presser bar spring and to latch against the ends ofsaid spring fingers as it is moved past the same when said rod is movedin the opposite direction, and means for moving the ends of said springfingers out of operative relation with said stop shoulders to permitfree sliding movement of said rod in said opposite directio-n.

8. A quick-adjustment device for a sewing machine comprising anexternally threaded bushing adapted to be screwed into the head of asewing machine and having an axial bore therethrough, a rod mounted foraxial sliding movement in the bore of said bushing and adapted to beconnected to the presser bar spring of the machine to hold the sameunder compression, and releasable latch means operatively connectingsaid rod to said bushing comprising a spring sleeve carried by saidbushing within the bore thereof and surrounding said rod, said springsleeve being slotted longitudinally to define a plurality of springfingers arranged longitudinally of said rod with the ends thereof biasedinto engagement with the periph-.

eral surface of said rod, a plurality of stop shoulders spaced axiallyon said rod, said stop shoulders being adapted to slide freely past theends of said spring fingers when said rod is moved in the direction toincrease the compression of the presser bar spring and to latch againstthe ends of said spring ngers `as it is 'moved parsttheA same when saidrod isV moved inthe opposite direction,v

and a releasing sleeve surrounding said rod-and arranged internally ofsaid spring sleeve, said releasing sleeve being sldable longitudinallyof saidrod to cam said spring ngers out of operative relation with saidstop shoulder to permit free sliding movement of said rod in saidopposite direction.

9. A quick-adjustment device for the presser mechanism of a sewingmachine comprising a bushing adapted to be secured in the head of asewing'n'iachine and having' a bore, 'a sleeve secured in the bore ofsaid bushing and' rod, said iheing' formed' to slide "freely plast`saidn spring fingers `as said rod` is moved in one direction and toengage against :said stop as said rodis moved ini the other direction,and meanslforrnoving the ends of Hsaid springngers outY 0foperativerrelation Wirth said stop to permit frere sliding movement ofsaid -rodin said -other direction. t

i References Cited inthe ilrei'of` this 'patient vUNITED STATES lPATENTS2,533,746 Stuster V. Dec. 12, '1950

